Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-10-13

evident from the odors that were ever
and anon waited in from the kitchen.
In the course Of FIVE to ten minutes
the landlord put his rnbicund visage
in at the door, and announced that
dinner was ready.
Abner and asked him if he could
serve us with lunch at the same
time. Certainly. We could have
what we wanted. l turned 10 the
deacon, and asked him Il he would 90
in with us.
Said |, We can finish our business
just as we'll while Mr.. Jackson and /
are eating as at any time
called for piece of bread, with
cheese, and cup OF milk.
Abner called for the same.
The sideboard was a broad pine
table, set close against the wall on the
back side, with its end against the
partition of the kitchen; and over that
end was an aperture communicating
with the culinary department.
On this board l saw q loin OF veal--
roast-with only few slices gone. 1t
would furnish cold meat for supper,
with plenty left for the servants. Also
q part of roast sirloin of beef. That,
likewise, was intended for supper
cold.
The landlord saw us, seated, and
having placed before Dan dish of
potatoes, two slices of bread, a really
generous slice of veal, with a small
dish of gravy, he was upon the point
of turning, when the hungry man
asked if he couldn't have something
warm to drink. He didn't care par
ticularly whether it was tea or coffee.
We don't furnish hot drink with
dinner, unless especially ordered, said
Lotus, rather hufily.
well, old boy, just you consider
that l havesespeclally ordered coffee,
III you've gotit handy. If you
haven't, let it be some tea.
A red headed girl who was in wait
ing at the sideboard was directed to
call for the e-pot; and shortly
after, as though fearing that he might
come to high words with the fellow if
he renamed, the fat host took himself
out of the way, leaving Susan to wait
upon the table and upon the guests.
Susan Mason, the damsei of the red
head, was a farmers daughter, whose
parents were next-door neighbors to
Abner, and they were friends. She
disliked Lotus; and when Abner had
given her to understand the game in
hand she caught at it eagerly.
And then began scene of the
drama that l never saw approached
by any other man. Dams plate was
cleared in a twinkling.
'Sooz'n, leetle piece more o that
ere veal, + u please.
1t came-a generous slice: and Dan
added another potato.
'Sooz'n, will We le' me hav' bit
more bread?
She brought him half loaf and
more butter.
sSooz'n, declare that ere veal is
very good. Will ye' le' me hav' jest
a leetle bit moreP
Susan enjoyed it. She had heard
her father speak of Dan Bantam's
eating capacity; but she had never
heard half Of the truth. He finished
the veal, and then went at the beef;
and by the time he had done, what
was left of the latter was chiefly bonel
sSooz'n, hav' ye got leetle bit o
pudd'n, or anything O. that kind, eh?'
She told him they had no pudding;
but they had plenty of pies-rnince.
apple.
'Oh, Jimmy! Mince-ple for the
worldl Les hav' one.
And she brought him whole
mince-pie, together with generous
slice of good cheese.
He went at it with q relish, actually
smacking his lipsl And the pie dis
appeared. And this was not the end.
'sooz'n, didn't ! hear ye say custard
pier
'Yas, sir
well, I rayther fancy as how't I'll
top off on one o them.
She brought it, and he was devour.
ing the last morsel Of it when the land
lord came in We learned afterwards
that he had been detained out Of doors
BY man who had oeen talking OF
trading horses, but it had come to
nothing.
So he came in feeling vexed. He
thought he had lost good deal
through the disposition of the horse-
man to wrong and defraud him.
Stephen Lotus was an old land
lord. He carried in his mind the
situation as he had left it three-quar
ters OF an hour before; and now he
took in the existing situation at a
glance.
He saw the skeleton on the side
board Ia beef bone, and the section Of
the bones Of veal loin; he saw the
empty bread plate; the empty cheese
dlsh; an empty mince-pie plate; and a
custard pie just departed. He had
looked first in detail. He now gave
one general survey of the field, and